Quiet

Because I am working at one of our events tomorrow (Saturday), today I am home early from work. It is a wonderfully sunny afternoon. Cricket is pleased to be sitting on the windowsill, listening to and watching for birds after months of plastic-covered windows. And other than the birds, my fingers tapping the keyboard, and the occasional sound of my carbonated water fizzing, all is quiet.

As it turns out, I LOVE the quiet. I don't remember liking silence in the past - I always found more pleasure in having music playing. I'm not sure why or when that changed - but I think it most has to do with a sense of "quiet scarcity" as a result of being overstimulated by the never-ending information stream that is modern life.

Last night we attended a sold out lecture on brain science and well-being at the U. The speaker discussed the brain, the mind, and the body, and just how critical the integrated functioning of these parts is to the well-being of individuals internally (physically, mentally, emotionally) and interpersonally (in relationships with all aspects of the outside world). He talked about the fact that our identities have become so based on the physical (material) and external (info stream) world that we often end up incredibly out of touch with ourselves and others because of a lack of "integration." His recipe for integration is to be mindful about honoring differences and promoting linkages with others and ourselves, as it will in turn lead to integrated brain functioning.

Clearly his philosophy can't be summed up in one paragraph, as he has written several books to make his points (and to make a ridiculous sum of money, undoubtedly). I have one book that my office promotes to parents that I haven't finished reading yet - The Whole Brain Child. It is very accessible and empowering. To learn more, and to be surprised by a personal video introduction to his site, check out: http://www.drdansiegel.com/home/.